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GREENSBORO, N.C. - 17-year-old Tyler Smith’s dreams came true this past week when he captured the World Ninja League Elite crown at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex. Tyler became the first competitor in eight seasons to clear all three stages in the Elite division at the world championships. “This is definitely one of my bigger dreams come true,” he said. “I have been training for seven and a half years and competing in this league for six years and slowly made my way up. I was 10th, fifth, and third and I was really happy to win the whole thing this time.” Tyler trains five to six days a week, often at a farm Ninja gym in a barn in Dorsey and also at Shinobi Fitness. Tyler lives in Holiday Shores. Tyler’s mother, Leila, said she was so proud of her son for such a remarkable achievement. “I think being proud of him might be an understatement,” she said. “He has worked so hard the last seven and a half years. He has been competing

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JERSEYVILLE - Two individuals have been charged with battery while one faces an additional drug-related charge in Jersey County, according to recent court filings. Chad R. Cordes, 36, of Jerseyville, was charged with aggravated domestic battery on June 21. Court records state Cordes “intentionally strangled” the victim “using a phone charger cable.” Cordes was charged with a Class 2 felony and his bail was set at $75,000. More information and updates on this case can be found here by searching for case number 2023CF000105. Andrew L. Hoofard, 37, also of Jerseyville, was charged with one count of battery and one count of methamphetamine possession. Court records state he slapped the victim in the face, resulting in a Class A misdemeanor charge. Hoofard was also given a Class 3 felony charge for possessing less than five grams of methamphetamine. More information and updates on this case can be found here by searching for case number 2023CF000102.

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ALTON - Alton’s 4th of July celebration promises to go off with a bang tonight, July 3 at the Alton Amphitheater. Starting at 5 p.m., the event offers live music and plenty of food before the fireworks display at 9:30 p.m. “People always look forward to the fireworks festival, and the Amphitheater Commission does a wonderful job of putting together a nice event down at the riverfront. There will be music, food and a festive atmosphere and it culminates with the fireworks,” Alton Mayor David Goins said. Alton’s fireworks display is a local favorite. Fireworks company J&M Displays started setting up the launchsite in West Alton, Missouri at 10 a.m. today. Supervisor Bill Bojarzin said this is his 25th year of launching the Alton fireworks. He added that Independence Day has always been one of his favorite holidays. A local DJ is playing music from 5–7:30 p.m., and then the 399th Army Band will take the stage at 8 p.m. until the fireworks start.

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ALTON - A brotherhood exists in firefighting and police work that is difficult to compare to other professions. In firefighting, it means firefighters can count on each other, teach and encourage each other, and spend time with each other and their families. When a fellow firefighter has a time of need, the others are there for that team member. It is also a comradeship and family that firefighters together earn through the perils of smoke and soot. Firefighters have to be able to count on one another during some terrible emergencies. Recently, 10 Alton firefighters traveled to Missouri Baptist to support one of their own - Captain Rusty Long - in his last chemotherapy infusion. The Alton firefighters were there to wish him the best when Long rang the bell to signify the end of chemotherapy. Alton Deputy Fire Chief Matt Fisher said the brotherhood and concern for each other develop when you spend 24 hours a day together and get to know each other’s family as a firefighter. “

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EDWARDSVILLE - Granite City senior-to-be point guard Trevon Bond is one of nine seniors who will be returning to the Warriors' basketball team this coming season and he thinks the veteran-laden and hard-working team will be among one of the best in the area in the 2023-24 season. Bond and his teammates were displaying their skills for college recruiters at the Edwardsville NCAA Live Showcase event June 23-25 at Edwardsville High School's Lucco-Jackson Gym and at Liberty Middle School, playing against four high-quality opponents in Peoria Manuel, University City, CBC and Decatur MacArthur. In an interview conducted after the game against University City, Bond felt that he and the Warriors played well in their first two games on Saturday. Bond is recognized as a Stillwater Senior Living Male Athlete of the Month for the Warriors. "I feel it's pretty good," Bond said. "It was pretty good competition that we played against. We've just got to keep working hard, keep playing as a team."

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ROXANA - Senior-to-be Tyrone Foster is expected to be one of the top players on defense for the Alton High School football team in 2023 as the Redbirds seek to turn around their program from a 1-8 record from the year before. Foster showed much enthusiasm and a team-first attitude during seven-on-seven passing scrimmages on June 28 with Marquette Catholic and Hardin Calhoun, along with host Roxana, at Charlie Raich Filed and he's feeling that the Redbirds are capable of turning things around this coming season. Foster is being recognized as an Auto Butler Male Athlete of the Month for the Redbirds. "It's been good," Foster said during an interview conducted during a break in the drills. "I'm not going to lie, I'm a humble person, so I made a mistake, but I came back the next play and I did what I was supposed to do. So, we've just got to get better as a team and I need to get better as well." Overall during the summer season, Foster feels that things are looking more promising than

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GRANITE CITY – Granite City Community Unit School District #9 teachers Terri Kunz and Amy Ori were among 66 teachers and administrators representing 21 area schools/districts joining the Institute for School Partnership at Washington University in St. Louis (ISP) June 20-21 for #mySci Summer Institutes. Kunz and Ori, who are science teachers at Coolidge Junior High School, had the opportunity to learn more about using the mySci curriculum and resources for maximum impact and to network with teaching peers who also count on mySci to provide engaging, hands-on science content for students. "Coolidge has been utilizing the MySci program for five years now," said Kunz. "We are very pleased with the curriculum offering a variety of lessons, hands-on materials, and labs for our students to learn NGSS." Keeping kids excited about learning science is a tall order, but K-8 teachers in 245+ schools across the St. Louis region count on ISP’s mySci program each year

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CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Jerseyville's Ellen Kangas was honored recently on Mount Mercy University's Spring 2023 Dean's List. Students with a semester grade point average of 3.60 or better, and who are graded (letter grade, not pass/fail) for six or more semester hours, are eligible for inclusion on the Dean's List. Located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Mount Mercy University is the regional Catholic, Mercy University that promises students of diverse backgrounds, ages, and faiths a challenging, practical education that inspires them to discover knowledge, build community, and live their values. Mount Mercy provides a forward-thinking, future-focused education, offering baccalaureate and graduate education to 1,600+ enrolled students and uniquely blending a quality liberal arts education with career-focused professional preparation.

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WICHITA, Kan. - More than 2,060 students completed a total of 2,293 degrees at Wichita State University in spring 2023. Jerseyville's Benjamin R. Flowers received his Master of Education Counseling, degree Magna Cum Laude. Ben missed the graduation ceremony as he was competing at the Shockers' track and field conference meet in Florida. Ben had a time of 14:26.48 in the 5,000 meters and placed seventh, which earned two points for his team. Edwardsville's Matthew J. Boyer received his Bachelor of Business Administration, Finance, Magna Cum Laude. Undergraduate students who have attained a grade point average of 3.9 out of a possible 4.0 received the summa cum laude award; those with an average of 3.55 received the magna cum laude award; and those with an average of 3.25 received the cum laude award. About Wichita State Wichita State University is Kansas' only urban public research university, enrolling almost 22,000 students between its main campus and WSU Tech, including students

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DeKALB - Over 2,200 students received their degrees from Northern Illinois University in May. Included among the graduates was Kimberly Nixon of Brighton who earned a Master of Science in Education in School Business Management. Northern Illinois University is a student-centered, nationally recognized public research university, with expertise that benefits its region and spans the globe in a wide variety of fields, including the sciences, humanities, arts, business, engineering, education, health and law. Through its main campus in DeKalb, Illinois, and education centers for students and working professionals in Chicago, Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Oregon and Rockford, NIU offers more than 100 courses of study while serving a diverse and international student body of about 19,000. The 17 NIU Huskie athletic teams compete in the Mid-American Conference at the highest NCAA Division I level. For more information, visit www.niu.edu.

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ALTON - The local creators of Dawg Haus Grill’n Sauce recently discussed the sauce’s popularity, their future plans for the company, and where to get the sauce just in time for the Fourth of July. Freddie and April Hausman with Dawg Haus Grill’n Sauce appeared on an episode of Our Daily Show! on Riverbender.com to discuss their homemade sauce, and Freddie said it’s been very popular. “Last year, we sold close to 1,400 jars,” Freddie said, which he added was quite impressive “for starting out local, just at farmers markets.” April said the sauce is literally homemade - they make it in their home kitchen, and the jars it comes in take up an entire room in their house. The jars are sealed for added shelf life and are good for up to a year on the shelf, and up to six months after they’ve been opened (but must be kept refrigerated once opened). Freddie said Dawg Haus Grill’n Sauce has been so well-received that they

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ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones provided this statement after Governor Mike Parson signed the State of Missouri's FY24 budget. I have also provided additional information regarding state allocations to the City of St. Louis below: "Disagreeing on some issues doesn’t mean elected leaders need to be disagreeable on others. In February, I visited Jefferson City to talk with legislators across party lines about resources St. Louis needs to strengthen our communities. From youth jobs to improving 911 dispatch to repairing our infrastructure, many of St. Louis’ top priorities are reflected in this year’s state budget. "These investments to support our youth, upgrade our infrastructure, and improve public safety will yield benefits for decades to come. Thank you to the St. Louis delegation for getting these important items across the finish line in the state legislature, and I appreciate Governor Parson for this consideration of the City’s needs." SUPPORTING

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GODFREY - Have you ever wondered what creatures of the night are living in your backyard? Join us at The Nature Institute to get your questions answered and gain some insight into how we can help protect these important insects that only come out at night. This program is part of The Nature Institute’s Community Science Series. Entomologist Dr. Jake Williams from SIUE will be leading the program and sharing his extensive knowledge about the insects in our backyards. This program is scheduled for 8 p.m. on Friday, July 14. The night will start with a short presentation by Dr. Williams about the insects that we will see, then a hike is planned along the paved path to the skeet range where we will use black lights and other lights to attract insects to our survey area. The Nature Institute is a perfect place to attend this program because the property has many different habitat types which will increase the diversity of insects we will see. Then those in attendance will explore

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Municipal Band is thrilled to announce its upcoming concert, "A Salute to Broadway," which will take place on the Cleaon Etzkorn Bandstand at City Park at 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 6. Under the direction of Dr. Rubén Darío Gómez, the band will serenade the audience with melodies from Broadway's most cherished productions, including "The Phantom of the Opera," "Hamilton," "Mary Poppins," and more. Concessions available during the concert will directly benefit the Glen-Ed Food Pantry. For more information about the Edwardsville Municipal Band and its upcoming events, please visit them on Facebook, Instagram, or on the City of Edwardsville website.

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that lanes that have been closed for construction will reopen, where possible, for the Independence Day holiday to minimize travel disruption. Non-emergency closures will be suspended to 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, July 4. The following lane closures will remain in place during the holiday weekend. Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through these areas. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to changed conditions and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits, refrain from using mobile devices and stay alert for workers and equipment. At all times, please buckle and drive sober. District 1 City of Chicago Outbound Bishop Ford Freeway (eastbound Interstate 94) ramp to eastbound 130th Street; closed, detour posted. Outbound Kennedy Expressway (westbound I-94) west of Addison Street; right shoulder closed. Inbound Kennedy (eastbound I-94) between Lawrence Avenue

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LITCHFIELD – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced the Attorney General’s office has charged a Montgomery County man with allegedly possessing child pornography. The case is part of Raoul’s ongoing work, in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement officials throughout Illinois, to apprehend offenders who download child pornography online. Raoul’s office charged Robert J. Meyer, Jr., 47, of Litchfield, Illinois, in Montgomery County Circuit Court with two counts of possession of child pornography, Class 2 felonies punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Meyer’s bond was set at $100,000 and he will next appear in court July 21. “Child pornography is a horrific crime that can leave life-long scars on innocent children and their families,” Raoul said. “As a result of work done by my office’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, this predator can be held accountable. I appreciate th

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EAST SAINT LOUIS – The Illinois State Police (ISP) conducted Operation Safe Summer on June 26 - 29, 2023 in St. Clair and Madison counties to increase the safety of residents of the Metro East this summer. The operation targeted known high crime areas, organized violent offenders, and criminal groups in the communities most affected by violence. Operation Safe Summer was led by the ISP Statewide Anti-Violence Enforcement (SAVE) South team and supported by ISP’s Special Operations Group (SOG), Division of Patrol Troops 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, ISP Air Operations, ISP Division of Criminal Investigation - Zone 6 - Public Safety Enforcement Group (PSEG), ISP Firearms Investigation Unit, and the Metropolitan Enforcement Group of Southwestern Illinois using intelligence support and technology resources. Detail Results: Traffic Stops: 483 Subjects arrested: 55 Total Criminal Charges: 101 Felony Charges: 64 Firearms Seized/Recovered: 25 (seven stolen firearms recovered)

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY - On July 1, 2023, at 3:55 PM, St. Louis County Police Officers from the City of Jennings precinct responded to a call for service at a residence located in the 5200 block of Hamilton Avenue regarding storm damage and an unconscious child. Arriving officers made contact with an adult female who stated her son was inside her residence in his bedroom where a tree had fallen; her son was trapped beneath the tree and was unconscious. Fire and EMS personnel also responded to the scene. After several rescue attempts, responding personnel were able to free the child. The child was transported to an area hospital for life-saving treatment but was later pronounced deceased. The victim has been identified as Eric J. Wallace, 5 years of age, of the 1300 block of Hamilton Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri 63112.

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ALTON - At 12:49 a.m. Sunday, July 2, 2023, Alton Police Department received a 911 call regarding a shooting in the 2400 block of Lincoln Avenue in Alton. Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford said Alton officers, in addition to officers with the Cross River Crimes Task Force who were in Alton for unrelated reasons, immediately responded to the scene and determined that one adult male subject had been shot and ultimately died. "Officers were also able to immediately locate an adult male subject responsible for discharging the firearm and causing the death," Ford said. "That subject was taken into custody and remains at the Alton Jail. "Preliminary information has revealed that the subjects involved in this incident are all family and/or known to one another. This is not a random act of violence nor is there any threat to the public. Our condolences to the many family members affected by this incident." Ford continued and said: "The investigation is ongoing at this time. The Alton Police

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BRIGHTON - Rain couldn’t scare off Brighton residents as many gathered at Schneider Park to celebrate Independence Day on Saturday, July 1 with food, a fishing derby, a 5K and more. Known as Independence Day at the Park, the celebration offers numerous competitions and events throughout the day. The Village of Brighton promised that there’s “something for everyone.” The day kicked off early with a Kid’s Fishing Derby & Casting Contest from 8:30–10:30 a.m. A “firecracker 5K” began at 9 a.m. and Brandy Hendy won first place. The Brighton Athletic Association also hosted a Home Run Derby for kids and adults at 11:30 a.m. The afternoon and evening promises plenty of sweet treats, starting with a watermelon-eating contest at 3 p.m. Kids and adults competed for medals. Entries for the famous cake and pie baking competition are due at 4:30 p.m. for judging at 5 p.m. All entries will be auctioned off after the winners are announced.

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